Water stress, water-related hazards and water quality pose increasing challenges to modern society. And yet, the capacity to monitor and manage this vital resource is fragmented and inadequate. Billions of people around the world also feel the impact of climate change through water.

Climate change will affect the availability, quality and quantity of water needed for basic human needs, thus undermining enjoyment of the basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people, warns the latest UN World Water Development Report. The authors call on States to make more concrete commitments to address the challenge.

One of the biggest impacts of climate change is on water, which in turn affects sustainable development and security. But in contrast to internationally coordinated information about rising temperatures, data on water resources is patchy and incomplete.

WMO has just issued its twice-yearly Bulletin, with a focus on Climate and Wate r in accordance with the theme of World Meteorological Day and World Water Day. The Bulletin introduces WMO’s 70 th anniversary, although official commemorative activities have been scaled back because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) conducted online outreach activities this year to celebrate World Meteorological Day 2020. It includes a message from WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas and CMA Administrator Ms. LIU Yaming. You can find many other interesting outreach materials, including the online video of CMA's new meteorological exhibition hall and other colorful on-line commemorative activities.

As the climate change crisis becomes a global reality, so does the importance of water. Accessible, potable water is critical for stable human societies and sustainable ecosystems. What’s more, it is now evident that water shortages have the potential to lead to political and social unrest. In Asia, the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan is currently being challenged by both nations due to recent changes in rainfall patterns and increasing rates of “water withdrawal” that have resulted from dam developments in both nations.

Water-related hazards and threats are a source of deepening concern globally. Tens of millions of people worldwide are affected by these events, and damages are estimated to cost in the order of magnitude of billions of US dollars per year. Water hazards are consistently identified as among the highest global risks in terms of impact (World Economic Forum (WEF), 2020). And scientists expect water-associated risks to intensify in the coming years due to climate change, population growth and increasing economic activities.

Climate change, population growth and human intervention within river channels and catchments make it more challenging than ever to provide reliable information on the current and future state of water in the world's rivers. Yet society urgently needs timely, dependable information for early warning of floods and droughts, which still today surprise and devastate entire communities. Scientific progress must accelerate to meet this challenge.

To amplify the messages around climate change and water, both World Water Day and World Meteorological Day in 2020 focus on climate change and water and aim to inspire people around the world to take action. In order to inform and engage people, World Meteorological Day and World Water Day will highlight how water can help fight climate change.